Parents are often (overly)concerned about how others view them when they are  in the Public with their kids.

Yes, it is true that when a YOUNG child misbehaves, I do shift the blame to the parents. Afterall, it IS the upbringing that shapes a child’s well-being.

Which is also why I STRONGLY AGREE with Parents who still insist on taking care of their children on their own, even though they are going through financial difficulties, instead of putting them with granny or maid or child care centre.

I was once in that situation 5 years ago, but after taking care of my kids, on my own, full time after that, I know that the struggle to find money is all worthwhile; because I have LESSER disciplinary issues to tackle with.

When a child is brought up by two different care-takers, whose parenting styles are totally different, the child gets confused and thus are more disobedient because they do not have a FIXED rule to follow.

For example, granny says “Yes, you can play with your toys while you eat.” But Mummy says, “No, play After you eat.” Who should the child follow?

How can you teach a child to respect the elderly, when you want the child to disobey the granny; simply because granny’s style of upbringing a child is different from yours? Can you see what the child has to go through?

With such a confusing environment to grow up in, it is NOT surprising at all that the child starts to listen to the one who ‘gives in’ to his/her whims and fancies more than the other adult; and thus gives the latter a harder time when they are together.

Then again, there are parents who seek for perfection in their child, just like how they would want to be known as a perfect parent. But the fact is, there is NO SUCH THING as a perfect child or perfect parent. It is ONLY in the eyes of the beholder that you can find perfection.

What is perfect to you, may not be perfect to another.

To me, parenting is supposed to be a growing journey; mentally, emotionally and physically, for both the parent and the child.

When a parent seeks to ‘Mold‘ a perfect child, the parent lost the TRUE MEANING of what Parenting Joy is all about.

It is only natural that Parents feel proud when strangers come forward and say, “You have such good children. You have taught them well.”

But don’t be too OBSESSED in searching for such comments that you have forgotten that a child needs to develop into who he or she REALLY is! When parents are too obsessed with hearing those compliments, the child becomes a clay in the hands of the parent, taking shape to WHAT THE PARENT wants, and not what the child is capable of in life.

Imagine, your child is NOT talented in music, but because the parent thinks that music is good for the child, or maybe the parent had missed the chance to learn music during his/her childhood; and thus enrolled his/her own children into a music school to fulfill the parent’s wish.

SERIOUSLY?!!!?

Are you nurturing your child to your child’s potential?
Or are you trying to let your child fulfill your lost childhood dreams?
Or are you trying to make your child fit into the society because ‘every other parent’ is doing it; because of peer pressure?
I think these are some crucial questions parents should ask themselves….truthfully.

Parents Should Ask Themselves….